When evaluating the trade a year later, Wilkinson's assessment has proven correct.

For both teams.

The two goalkeepers have helped their respective teams establish themselves as legitimate playoff and conference title contenders as the regular season winds down.

"As you evaluate it over the length of the time of the trade, I think it's been beneficial to both organizations," Wilkinson said. "Troy has done very well in Montreal and I think they're happy with him. I think Ricketts has done very well for us and we're delighted with how he is performing at the moment."

Ricketts, 36, is tied for first in MLS with nine shutouts and is second with a 0.90 goals against average. The five-year veteran was selected to the 2013 MLS All-Star team (inactive roster) and has earned nine "Save of the Week" awards this year. With Ricketts helping organize a tough defense, the Timbers have a real shot to earn their first MLS playoff berth.

Perkins, who turned 32 in July, is fourth in MLS with 10 wins and fifth with 73 saves. His performances were instrumental in the Impact's strong start in which they won their first four games and posted a 9-4-4 record in the first half of the season.

Few would've predicted such a positive outcome for a trade that could be generously described as controversial -- at least in Portland -- in August 2012. The trade prompted very different reactions from each player.

Perkins, who had been acquired by the Timbers in a trade with D.C. United in December 2010, was popular with the fans and was one of the few players performing well in a rapidly deteriorating season in 2012.

"It was tough at first, but I had to move on," Perkins said. "I've got no hard feelings toward any of those guys. It's part of the business. We've had situations here where guys have been let go out of nowhere. We sign on every day knowing that's what could happen."

For his part, Wilkinson regrets the upgrade response.

"My comment was inappropriate and out of order," Wilkinson said. "The upgrade statement was more of a comment relative to the times that we were going through where I was a little bit defensive."

Ricketts was in the midst of an increasingly frustrating season and was looking for a way out of Montreal, where he'd been since Los Angeles traded him in November 2011.

Ricketts and then first-year goalkeepers coach Preston Burpo clashed. Ricketts disagreed with the Impact's overall philosophy during its inaugural season, implying that management's goals were unrealistic for an expansion team.

"I think they wanted to win the championship straight away. They didn't want to build and set a foundation. It was like, 'We want everything to happen now,' " Ricketts said. "You can see it now. It's like they're trying to get players, get players. They're in a rush to do something quick. That was my problem with everything in Montreal."

The trade was his get-out-of-jail-free card.

"You ever find yourself in a situation where you're someplace where you don't want to be and then you hear, 'Hey it's time to go?' It's one of the best feelings ever and you get a new lease on life," Ricketts said. "I want to reward the people that helped me get away from that situation by playing well and showing them that they made a good decision."

Many Portland fans initially viewed the trade as sending a reliable goalkeeper and popular player away in exchange for an inconsistent goalkeeper who couldn't perform adequately with an expansion team. Those fans noted that the Impact had conceded a league-high 43 goals and Ricketts' 1.64 goals against average ranked near the bottom of MLS at the time.

Porter and Wilkinson did their homework and research on the 6-foot-4 Ricketts and decided that he fit Porter's vision of what type of goalkeeper works best in his system.

"I like big goalkeepers. Not that I don't like small goalkeepers, but I prefer a guy in the goal that gives a presence. If we build our team to be a small team and have the ball, we're going to need a bigger goalkeeper to deal with set pieces," Porter said. "There's certain players at each position that fit what your vision is for how you're going to play."

With the help of goalkeepers coach Mike Toshack, Ricketts is performing as well as he did when he won Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010. He is making highlight-worthy saves seemingly each game and has instilled confidence within the squad that sits in fourth place in the Western Conference.

"He's always very steady... sort of a calming presence for us back there. That's what he brings to the table," outside back Michael Harrington said. "(Monday) in training, a few us are scuffling and kind getting after it and he's like, 'Guys, relax. Calm down.' He's been good for us all season long in that way."

Using a defensive-oriented approach, Perkins and the Impact started the season with four consecutive wins by conceding a combined two goals during those games. Montreal won nine of its first 14 games and moved into first place in the Eastern Conference.

Montreal's momentum has slowed considerably, the Impact is 1-4-3 since the early performance. The fourth-place Impact trail first-place Kansas City by four points and the players know the opportunity to win the East remains an achievable goal.

"We've had a rough patch, but I think we're going to get through it. We're kind of figuring ourselves out a little bit more now," Perkins said. "We all have to make a decision individually and collectively to do the dirty work -- come out and be a little nasty, a little hard. We have to make that decision to be that kind of team."

The swap of the two goalkeepers is one of those rare trades where both the players and the teams are happy with the result. A berth in the playoffs would add even more satisfaction.

"The club is finally getting an identity here in the city," Perkins said. "We'll never be number one because of hockey, but if we can make the playoffs and make a good run at this, keep people interested, it's going to be very big for the club."

Ricketts said reaching the playoffs would be as special as when he helped the Galaxy reach the MLS final in his first season with the team.

"No one even expected us to be in this position we're in right now," Ricketts said. "It's going to be the same feeling, or even a more special feeling if we can do it."